Significado
Asking for the time.
Contexto cultural
Russians typically use the 24-hour clock for official business but the 12-hour clock in conversation. If someone says 'час' (one o'clock), they usually mean 1:00 PM if it's daytime. In big cities, people are very busy. When asking 'Какой сейчас час?', expect a very brief, direct answer. It's not considered rude; it's just the pace of life. The phrase 'Который час?' is often preferred in classical literature (Tolstoy, Dostoevsky) over 'Какой сейчас час?', which feels slightly more modern. It is polite to use 'Извините' (Excuse me) or 'Скажите, пожалуйста' (Tell me, please) before asking the time from a stranger.
The 'Now' Factor
You can omit 'сейчас' and just ask 'Какой час?', but adding 'сейчас' makes it sound more natural and less abrupt.
Gender Matters
Never say 'Какое час'. 'Час' is a man (masculine), so he needs a masculine 'Какой'!
Significado
Asking for the time.
The 'Now' Factor
You can omit 'сейчас' and just ask 'Какой час?', but adding 'сейчас' makes it sound more natural and less abrupt.
Gender Matters
Never say 'Какое час'. 'Час' is a man (masculine), so he needs a masculine 'Какой'!
The 'Ordinal' Answer
If someone answers 'Второй час', they mean it's between 1:00 and 2:00. Don't let it confuse you!
Politeness Prefix
Always start with 'Извините' (Excuse me) when asking a stranger. It opens doors!
Ponte a prueba
Choose the most polite way to ask a stranger for the time.
Вы на улице и хотите узнать время у прохожего. Что вы скажете?
'Какой сейчас час?' is the standard polite and grammatically correct form.
Fill in the missing word to complete the question.
________ сейчас час?
'Час' is a masculine noun, so the pronoun must be 'Какой'.
Complete the dialogue.
А: Извините, какой сейчас час? Б: Сейчас ________ три часа.
'Ровно' (exactly) is a common way to answer when it is exactly on the hour.
Match the phrase to the correct situation.
Match 'Какой сейчас час?' with its best context.
This phrase is specifically for asking the current time of day.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Ayudas visuales
Ways to Ask the Time
Formal
- • Какой сейчас час?
- • Который час?
Neutral
- • Сколько времени?
Polite Prefix
- • Скажите, пожалуйста...
- • Подскажите...
Banco de ejercicios
4 ejerciciosВы на улице и хотите узнать время у прохожего. Что вы скажете?
'Какой сейчас час?' is the standard polite and grammatically correct form.
________ сейчас час?
'Час' is a masculine noun, so the pronoun must be 'Какой'.
А: Извините, какой сейчас час? Б: Сейчас ________ три часа.
'Ровно' (exactly) is a common way to answer when it is exactly on the hour.
Match 'Какой сейчас час?' with its best context.
This phrase is specifically for asking the current time of day.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasNeither is 'better', but 'Какой сейчас час?' is slightly more formal and polite for strangers.
Yes, it works 24/7. Just remember Russians use the 12-hour clock in speech.
'Который час?' is the older, more traditional version. Both are correct.
No, Russian usually omits the verb 'to be' in the present tense. 'Какой сейчас час?' is a complete sentence.
Use 'Во сколько...?' (At what [time]...?). 'Какой сейчас час?' is only for the current time.
Yes, because you are asking which specific hour it is right now.
You can say 'У меня нет часов' (I don't have a watch/clock).
Yes, it's very common in meetings to keep track of time politely.
Yes, the word order is flexible, though 'Какой сейчас час?' is the most common.
Usually, yes. But in a university, an 'academic hour' (академический час) is 45 minutes.
Frases relacionadas
Который час?
synonymWhich hour?
Сколько времени?
similarHow much time?
Час пик
builds onRush hour
В добрый час!
specialized formGood luck! / In a good hour!
